Note: Citations are based on reference standards. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The specific requirements or preferences of your reviewing publisher, classroom teacher, institution or organization should be applied.

Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), one of the most outrageous and controversial figures of twentieth-century American literature, was so prolific that many important pieces were never collected during his lifetime. Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook is a substantial selection of these wide-ranging works, most of which have been unavailable since their original appearance in underground newspapers, literary journals, and even porn magazines. Among the highlights are Bukowski's first published short story, "Aftermath of a Lengthy Rejection Slip"; his last short story, "The Other"; his first and last essays; and the first installment of his famous "Notes of a Dirty Old Man" column. The book contains meditations on his familiar themes (drinking, horse-racing, etc.) as well as singular discussions of such figures as Artaud, Pound, and the Rolling Stones. Other significant works include the experimental title piece; a fictionalized account of meeting his hero, John Fante ("I Meet the Master"); an unflinching review of Hemingway ("An Old Drunk Who Ran Out of Luck"); the intense, autobiographical "Dirty Old Man Confesses"; and several discussions of his aesthetics ("A Rambling Essay on Poetics and the Bleeding Life Written While Drinking a Six-Pack [Tall]," "In Defense of a Certain Type of Poetry, a Certain Type of Life, a Certain Type of Blood-Filled Creature Who Will Someday Die," and "Upon the Mathematics of the Breath and the Way"). What is ultimately revealed is an unexpectedly learned mind behind his seemingly off hand productions. Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook is essential reading for Bukowski fans, as well as a good introduction for new readers of this innovative, unconventional writer. --From the publisher.Read more...

Introduction --
Aftermath of a lengthy rejection slip --
20 tanks from Kasseldown --
Hard without music --
Trace: editors write --
Portions from a wine-stained notebook --
A rambling essay on poetics and the bleeding life written while drinking a six-pack (tall) --
In defense of a certain type of poetry, a certain type of life, a certain type of blood-filled creature who will someday die --
Artaud anthology --
An old drunk who ran out of luck --
Notes of a dirty old man --
Untitled essay in A Tribute to Jim Lowell --
Notes of a dirty old man --
The night nobody believed I was Allen Ginsberg --
Should we burn Uncle Sam's ass? --
The silver Christ of Santa Fe --
Dirty old man confesses --
Reading and breeding for Kenneth --
The L.A. scene --
Notes on the life of an aged poet --
Upon the mathematics of the breath and the way --
Notes of a dirty old man --
Notes of a dirty old man --
Notes of a dirty old man --
Unpublished foreword to William Wantling's 7 on Style --
Jaggernaut --
Picking the horses --
Workout --
The way it happened --
Just passing time --
Distractions in the literary life --
I meet the Master --
Charles Bukowski's Los Angeles for Li Po --
Looking back at a big one --
Another Portfolio --
The other --
Basic training.

Abstract:

Important, uncollected work from one of the most infamous, over-the-top writers of American literature.Read more...

Reviews

Editorial reviews

Publisher Synopsis

"Bukowski's strength is in the sheer bulk of his contents, the virulent anecdotal sprawl, the melodic spleen without the fetor of the parlor or the classroom, as if he were writing while straddling a cement wall or sitting on a bar stool, the seat of which is made of thorns."-Jim Harrison, NY Times, 2007 "It features a wealth of previously uncollected Bukowski material, including his first published short stories, book reviews, essays on literature, U.S. politics, his writing craft, biographical accounts, entries from his famous NOTES of a DIRTY OLD MAN newspaper column, tips on how to win at the racetrack and even a review of a Rolling Stones concert. David Stephen Calonne provides a lucid and highly learned introduction to the book... No Bukophile should miss out on this book."--Bold MonkeyRead more...

"Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), one of the most outrageous and controversial figures of twentieth-century American literature, was so prolific that many important pieces were never collected during his lifetime. Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook is a substantial selection of these wide-ranging works, most of which have been unavailable since their original appearance in underground newspapers, literary journals, and even porn magazines. Among the highlights are Bukowski's first published short story, "Aftermath of a Lengthy Rejection Slip"; his last short story, "The Other"; his first and last essays; and the first installment of his famous "Notes of a Dirty Old Man" column. The book contains meditations on his familiar themes (drinking, horse-racing, etc.) as well as singular discussions of such figures as Artaud, Pound, and the Rolling Stones. Other significant works include the experimental title piece; a fictionalized account of meeting his hero, John Fante ("I Meet the Master"); an unflinching review of Hemingway ("An Old Drunk Who Ran Out of Luck"); the intense, autobiographical "Dirty Old Man Confesses"; and several discussions of his aesthetics ("A Rambling Essay on Poetics and the Bleeding Life Written While Drinking a Six-Pack [Tall]," "In Defense of a Certain Type of Poetry, a Certain Type of Life, a Certain Type of Blood-Filled Creature Who Will Someday Die," and "Upon the Mathematics of the Breath and the Way"). What is ultimately revealed is an unexpectedly learned mind behind his seemingly off hand productions. Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook is essential reading for Bukowski fans, as well as a good introduction for new readers of this innovative, unconventional writer. --From the publisher."@en

"Introduction -- Aftermath of a lengthy rejection slip -- 20 tanks from Kasseldown -- Hard without music -- Trace: editors write -- Portions from a wine-stained notebook -- A rambling essay on poetics and the bleeding life written while drinking a six-pack (tall) -- In defense of a certain type of poetry, a certain type of life, a certain type of blood-filled creature who will someday die -- Artaud anthology -- An old drunk who ran out of luck -- Notes of a dirty old man -- Untitled essay in A Tribute to Jim Lowell -- Notes of a dirty old man -- The night nobody believed I was Allen Ginsberg -- Should we burn Uncle Sam's ass? -- The silver Christ of Santa Fe -- Dirty old man confesses -- Reading and breeding for Kenneth -- The L.A. scene -- Notes on the life of an aged poet -- Upon the mathematics of the breath and the way -- Notes of a dirty old man -- Notes of a dirty old man -- Notes of a dirty old man -- Unpublished foreword to William Wantling's 7 on Style -- Jaggernaut -- Picking the horses -- Workout -- The way it happened -- Just passing time -- Distractions in the literary life -- I meet the Master -- Charles Bukowski's Los Angeles for Li Po -- Looking back at a big one -- Another Portfolio -- The other -- Basic training."@en